Michael Goodfellow
Michael Goodfellow MBE was a British professor in microbial systematics, specialising in Actinomycetota taxonomy. He earlier served as head of the School of Biology in University of Newcastle upon Tyne. He was also the chair of the Bergey's Manual Trust. Goodfellow died on 8 March 2024, at the age of 83.
Early life and education
Goodfellow was born in Ecclefechan, Scotland to mother Mary, who died when he was 3, and father Edwin Goodfellow. He grew up in Carlisle, Cumbria.Goodfellow attended Carlisle Grammar School. He did both his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the University of Liverpool, graduating with PhD in 1966. He took a postdoctoral fellowship at Penn State, then as an MRC Junior Research Fellow at the University of Leicester. In 1969 he joined the then newly established University of Newcastle, where he later served as head of the School of Biology.
Goodfellow in Newcastle University
In Newcastle he established and developed courses in microbial systematics and biotechnology and managed the Microbial Resource Laboratory for over 30 years. The MRC has and remains focussed on the development and application of state-of-the-art procedures designed to advance the systematics, ecology and commercialisation of actinobacteria.;Key achievements at the University of Newcastle include:
- Forty years research funding from sponsors such as the European Commission, Research Councils, The British Council and industrial concerns, notably Glaxo Smith Kline, Novartis and Severn Trent Water.
- Supervision of students who completed 62 PhDs., 4 M.Phils, and innumerable M.Sc's.
- International recognition for promoting actinobacterial biology and prokaryotic systematics, as exemplified by the award of international prizes, honorary degrees, and invitations to present keynote lectures at international symposia.